BEATTIE GOVERNMENT HELPS WOMEN GET A BETTER DEAL AT WORK

The Beattie Government is helping women get a better deal at work by running free Workplace Negotiation Skills seminars throughout the state.

Minister for Women Margaret Keech urged Queensland women to take advantage of the opportunity to get hands-on training in negotiation skills through these seminars.

The first of the seminars, which will be held around Queensland over the next two months, is at Arana Hills on April 30.

Mrs Keech said it was a great chance for Brisbane women to improve their negotiating abilities.

“We want women to learn the skills and gain the confidence they need to help them get what they want in the workplace,” Mrs Keech said.

“Whether it’s about negotiating higher pay, improved working conditions or achieving a better balance between work and personal obligations – the Office for Women’s Workplace Negotiation Skills seminars will provide invaluable assistance to many Queensland women.

“Negotiation skills are more important than ever under the new Work Choices legislation. If women are asked to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) with their employer, they need to know how to bargain for their pay and conditions.

“Unfortunately, AWAs under Work Choices have removed more conditions than pre-Work Choices AWAs.

“Most often it is overtime and penalty rates being lost.

“More than three out of five AWAs abolish penalty rates, and more than four out of five reduce or remove overtime pay – and this is just not acceptable.”

Despite a tight labour market, average weekly earnings for full-time adults fell 1.1% in real terms between March and August 2006, Mrs Keech said.

“Women make up the majority of workers, many in casual positions, in the retail and hospitality industries, and these appear to be the most affected,” she said.

“Women need to take control of their work situation by building effective communication and bargaining skills that can be used when negotiating their own workplace agreements.

“There are many studies which show that most men and women have widely different negotiating styles and women often lose out when it comes to bargaining for their terms and conditions.

“Women will find these to be extremely useful seminars, not only in workplace situations, but throughout their lives.”

The seminars are being run by the Office for Women in partnership with the Queensland Working Women’s Service and will be held from April to June 2007 in 10 south-east and regional Queensland centres.

Visit www.women.qld.gov.au/seminars or phone 1800 177 577.

Media Contact: Jo Gibbons 3225 1005 or 0421 611 989